Hanu (Jaw; chin): Meaning and Definition

What does Hanu mean in Sanskrit?

Hanu primarily refers to the jaw. Depending on the passage and the English translator’s choice, it may also be rendered as “chin,” “jawbone,” or occasionally “cheek.” These translations overlap anatomically, but “jaw” best represents the word’s broad and early Sanskrit usage.

Hanu is generally treated as a feminine noun with a stem ending in short u. Its nominative singular form is hanuḥ, while hanu is the dictionary stem and the form commonly used at the beginning of a compound. The word is attested in Vedic Sanskrit, including passages that refer to jaws as a pair.

• Primary meaning: jaw
• Contextual translation: chin or jawbone
• Grammatical form: usually a feminine u-stem noun
• Compound form: hanu-

How is Hanu used in yoga practice and teaching?

In physical yoga instruction, hanu can identify the jaw or chin region. The word may therefore be relevant when discussing the placement of the chin, tension in the jaw, or the relationship between the head, throat, and chest.

Jalandhara Bandha is often taught with movement of the chin toward the upper chest. Hanu can describe the anatomical area involved, although hanu is not part of the name Jalandhara Bandha itself. Teachers should also remember that traditional instructions and modern alignment methods vary, particularly for students with neck or jaw concerns.

Hanu does not carry an established philosophical meaning comparable to terms such as Atman, Dharma, or Samadhi. Its yoga relevance is mainly anatomical, linguistic, and devotional.

• Use “jaw” when translating the body part generally.
• Use “chin” when the instruction specifically concerns the front of the lower jaw.
• Avoid treating hanu as the name of a bandha, mudra, or independent yoga technique.

How is Hanu related to Hanuman?

The name Hanuman is traditionally connected with hanu, “jaw.” The underlying Sanskrit adjective Hanumat is formed with a possessive suffix and means “having a jaw,” commonly interpreted as “having a prominent, strong, or powerful jaw.” Hanuman is the familiar name form derived from this adjective.

A narrative in the Ramayana explains the name through an injury to the young Hanuman’s jaw after Indra strikes him with a thunderbolt. This story supports the traditional association between Hanuman and the jaw, although the basic grammatical formation itself expresses possession rather than specifying that the jaw was broken.

When Hanuman and Asana are combined in a pose name, the reference is to Hanuman and his legendary movement or form. The resulting pose name should be understood as a posture associated with Hanuman, rather than as a posture named directly for the jaw.

• Hanu: jaw
• Hanumat: possessing or characterized by a jaw
• Hanuman: the familiar name of the devotional figure associated with Rama

What is the linguistic history of Hanu?

Hanu is an old Indo-European anatomical word with relatives in other languages, including words connected with “chin.” Comparative linguistic evidence indicates that the anatomical sense belongs to an ancient word family.

Some Sanskrit dictionaries also list a separate hanu associated with meanings such as a weapon, injury, disease, or death. Those senses have been connected with the verbal root han, “to strike or kill.” Historical lexicography distinguishes these senses from the anatomical word meaning “jaw,” so the yoga-related meaning should not be explained simply as a derivative of the root han.